Aloha…
I just got back one week ago from a vacation on the island of Maui, which explains the previous and possibly cryptic Mai Tai Thoughts entry.
A vacation is an amazing thing. It rejuvenates, uplifts, realigns and lets you catch up on some sleep…even if you’re in the company of a four year-old. Many freelancers, especially musicians, are wont to take a vacation for fear that they’ll miss their next gig, because after all, since a week or two (or longer!) can go by without the phone ringing, they feel the need to field every single call and be available at every single moment in order to sustain their career.
I’ve been there, done that and I’m here to tell you that the benefits of taking a break, whether or not you’ve worked in the preceding weeks, is as big a favor as you can do for your body and mind. It’s so easy to lock yourself into a rut in both your everyday and creative life, and through the power of denial (in the name of the almighty grindstone) you may not even be conscious of the fact that you need to relax.
So, take my advice and chill out. Your attitude and your playing will benefit in so many ways and get the creative juices flowing again…